Month guide · Zanzibar · Tanzania
Zanzibar in December
What December is really like in Zanzibar: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mangapwani, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
December is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 31°C (88°F), lows of 24°C (75°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 12.5 hours of daylight. Hot, with showers early in the month, then busy and expensive over Christmas and New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 31°C (88°F) / 24°C (75°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 12.5 hours
- Sea temperature
- 28°C (82°F)
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- Highest
Weather in December
December is the 5th-warmest month in Zanzibar: days average 31°C (88°F) against a yearly average high of 30°C (86°F), and nights fall to about 24°C (75°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with November (31°C (88°F)), December is about as warm; by January highs stay near 32°C (90°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 06:04
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 18:33
- Daylight
- About 12.5 hours
- Sea
- 28°C (82°F)
Dry season (June–October). Dry, sunny and breezy with pleasant temperatures; peak season in July and August and the best time for kitesurfing.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 4 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 5 for hotel prices (highest in July). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
December has no major recurring festival in Zanzibar, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in December
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Historic site · Stone Town
Old Fort (Ngome Kongwe)
Built by the Omanis around 1700 on the site of a Portuguese church, the fort's thick walls now enclose craft shops, a café and an open-air amphitheatre used for performances and festivals.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Shopping
Market · Stone Town
Darajani Market
Visit in the morning; the fish and meat sections are intense, but the fruit and spice stalls are good for tasting.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Photo spot
Island · Off Stone Town
Prison Island (Changuu)
About 30 minutes by boat from Stone Town, Changuu Island was planned as a prison and later used as a quarantine station; today it is home to a colony of Aldabra giant tortoises, some of them very old, plus a small beach and snorkelling reef.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- History
- Outdoors
Beach · Off Stone Town
Nakupenda sandbank
Go with an operator that brings shade and leaves no rubbish behind; there are no facilities on the sandbank.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Couples
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
The sea averages 28°C (82°F) — warm enough to swim. Best beaches near Zanzibar.
What to pack
For highs near 31°C, lows near 24°C and 10 wet days: light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and high-factor sunscreen; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Zanzibar?
A shoulder-season month. If your dates are flexible, January–February and June–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zanzibar in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Zanzibar?
It is a shoulder-season month. Hot, with showers early in the month, then busy and expensive over Christmas and New Year.
+How warm is Zanzibar in December?
Average highs are around 31°C (88°F) and lows around 24°C (75°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zanzibar in December?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.